Gear
Tips for International Thru Hikers
After travelling half way around the world to complete the Pacific Crest Trail in 2022 and now most recently the Appalachian Trail in 2024, I have a fair bit of...
How a rodent made me get serious about my base weight
Wet, everything is wet. My tent is wet, my quilt is wet, my rain jacket lies in a sodden wet pile in the corner of my tent, wetter than it...
The Backpacker’s Guide to Bear Bagging
What is the deal with bear bags? Which type should I use, or should I use a canister? Once I have one, what do I do with it?
Lessons Learned: Going into my 2nd Thru-Hike
New Year, New Trail After a year away from thru-hiking, it's time to get back onto the trail. Since immersing myself in thru-hiking culture in 2017, it's been a significant...
Top Stoves, Filters, Rain Gear, and More on the Appalachian Trail: 2023 Thru-Hiker Survey
Each year here at The Trek, we ask long-distance hikers on the Appalachian Trail (AT) about the stoves and water filters they used on their 2023 thru-hike. This year we...
Rockin’ in the Bedrocks: Long Distance Hiking in Sandals
Importance of Footwear Selecting the right footwear for the trail is undoubtedly one of the most crucial decisions a hiker can make. The wrong shoes can significantly hinder your hike,...
The Top Sleeping Bags, Quilts, and Pads on the Appalachian Trail: 2023 Thru-Hiker Survey
Each year here at the Trek, we ask hikers on the Appalachian Trail all about what sleeping systems they used on their hike. In this installment, we'll cover the type...
Essential Gear for a 4,400-Mile Thru-Hike
Embarking on a thru-hike is no small feat. While the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail have secured their place as two of the most popular long-distance trails in the...
Top Tents and Shelters on the Appalachian Trail: 2023 Thru-Hiker Survey
This installment of the 2023 Appalachian Trail survey covers shelters of all kinds. We'll discuss the types of shelters used, the type and size chosen based on hiking companions, and...
11 AT and PCT Thru-Hikers Share Their Favorite Gear
As the 2023 thru-hiking season draws to a close, we’ve asked our Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail finishers to share which gear items became their favorites during their journeys....